Socrates termed swans his fellow-servants: in doing which he alluded to the antient priests, styled Cycni. They were people of the choir, and officiated in the temples of the same Deities; whose servant he professed himself to be. Hence Porphyry assures us, [184]Ὁυ παιζων ὁμοδουλους αυτου ελεγεν τους κυκνους (Σοκρατης), _that Socrates was very serious when he mentioned swans as his fellow-servants._ When, therefore, Aristophanes speaks of the [185]Delian and Pythian swans, they are the priests of those places, to whom he alludes. And when it is said by Plato, that the soul of Orpheus, out of disgust to womankind, led the life of a [186]swan, the meaning certainly is, that he retired from the world to some cloister, and lived a life of celibacy, like a priest. For the priests of many countries, but particularly of Egypt, were recluses, and devoted themselves to [187]celibacy: hence monkery came originally from Egypt. Lycophron, who was of Egypt, and skilled in antient terms, styles Calchas, who was the priest of Apollo, a swan. [188]Μολοσσου κυπεως κοιτου κυκνον. These epithets, the Scholiast tells us, belong to Apollo; and Calchas is called a swan, δια το γηραιον, και μαντικον: _because he was an old prophet and priest_. Hence, at the first institution of the rites of Apollo, which is termed the birth of the Deity, at Delos, it is said that many swans came from the coast of Asia, and went round the island for the space of seven days. [189]Κυκνοι δε θεου μελποντες αοιδοι Μηονιον Πακτωλον εκυκλωσαντο λιποντες Ἑβδομακις περι Δηλον· επηεισαν δε λοχειῃ Μουσαων ορνιθες, αοιδοτατοι πετεηνων. The whole of this relates to a choir of priests, who came over to settle at Delos, and to serve in the newly erected temple. They circled the island seven times; because seven, of old, was looked upon as a mysterious and sacred number. [190]Ἑβδομη ειν αγαθοις, και ἑβδομη εστι γενεθλη. Ἑβδομη εν πρωτοισι, και ἑβδομη εστι τελειη. Ἑβδοματῃ δη ὁι τετελεσμενα παντα τετυκται. Ἑπτα δε παντα τετυκται εν ουρανῳ αστεροεντι. The birds in the island of Diomedes, which were said to have been originally companions of that hero, were undoubtedly priests, and of the same race as those of whom I have been treating. They are represented as gentle to good men, and averse to those who are bad. Ovid describes their shape and appearance: [191]Ut non cygnorum, sic albis proxima cygnis; which, after what has been said, may, I think, be easily understood.